Broncos secondary becoming primary asset

Denver ranks fifth in pass defense

ENGLEWOOD -- The dramatic improvement in the Broncos' secondary began in training camp. With so many new faces in new places, that's just what coaches had hoped for.

"We knew we had to get better in a hurry, so in camp we practiced with an edge," said Broncos strong safety Mike Adams, a ninth-year pro in his first season in Denver.

"One guy in the secondary would make a great play in camp, and it would be up to the next guy to try to top that, do something even better," Adams added. "We used a lot of different combinations (in the secondary) and had kind of a competition among ourselves."

A free agent from the Cleveland Browns, Adams was signed to fill the spot vacated when Brian Dawkins announced his retirement. Dawkins played his final three seasons in Denver to complete a remarkable 16-year career. There's little argument that Dawkins ranked among pro football's best safeties during his time in the league.

Broncos teammates must have joked to Adams that there was no pres-sure or anything.

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